Nozzle



Sept. 7, 1965 E. W. ELVERSTQN NOZZLE Filed OCb. 1'7, 1965 6 f E w/g .y5-

I NVEN TOR fdl/wld WZZI/ersfa BY www@ j 0 ATTORNEYS United States PatentO 3,204,876 NOZZLE Edward W. Elverston, Albemarle County, Va., assignorto Vanelba Corporation, Charlottesville, Va., a corporation of VirginiaFiled Oct. 17, 1963, Ser. No. 317,009 4 Claims. (Cl. 239-533) Thisinvention relates to improvements in valved nozzles particularlyadapted, although not limited, to use with uids or light to mediumviscosity, and suitable for installation in automatic systems such asinsecticide spray systems and fuel oil furnaces, etc.

In many fluid dispersing systems, such as those mentioned above, it isessential to proper controlled operation that there be no after-dripfrom the spray nozzle when the control valve is closed. The nozzlespresently in use, although controlled by valves in the system insuring arapid pressure drop, have a tendency to permit the fluid in the nozzleat the time of shutoff to drip from the nozzle orifice until the nozzleis emptied.

It is the general object of the present invention to pro vide a valvednozzle which is operated by pressure of the fluid in the system, andwhich will not drip after its valve is closed.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a nozzleincorporating an improved pressure operated valve.

Another object is to provide a nozzle of this type having a system offluid outlet passageways, or orifices, which are designed to causeresidual uid in the orifices after valve closure to be retained toprevent drip.

A further object is the provision of separate nozzle tip and valve seatmembers to permit change of nozzle tip without disturbing the machinedrelationship of the valve seat and the valve.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a dripless valvednozzle wherein the valve stem is mounted for free floating action and issupported at both ends for true longitudinal movement and preciseregistry with the valve seat.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the followingdescription of one practical embodiment thereof, when taken inconjunction with the drawings which accompany, and form part of, thisspecification.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a side elevation of a nozzle incorporating the principles ofthe present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical, longitudinal section through the nozzle shown inFIGURE l, illustrating the nozzle valve in closed position;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2, but with the valve in openposition;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical, transverse section through the nozzle taken onthe line 4-4 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is an end elevation of the valve seat member.

In general, the nozzle of the present invention includes a casing havinga nozzle tip at one end, with afluid pressure operated valve within thecasing controlling outflow of lluid through the nozzle tip. The valveand the orices from the valve through the nozzle tip cooperate toachieve instantaneous spray shutoff without drip when the valve isclosed.

Referring to the drawings in detail, there is shown a nozzle 1, the bodyof which is formed by an open-ended tubular casing 2. The casing isdivided by a central partition 3 into a valve chamber 4 at one end, anda valve spring chamber 5 at the other. The valve chamber has its endclosed by a nozzle tip 6. Within the valve chamber there is a iloating,tluid pressure control valve stem 7.

ICC

The casing is provided with a threaded aperture 8, communicating withthe interior of the valve chamber. The aperture forms a fluid inlet tothe chamber, and a fluid line, or tube, 9 is threaded into the aperture.Fluid entering the chamber through tube 9 controls the action of valvestem '7, and the valve, in turn, controls the flow of uid from thechamber out through the nozzle tip.

The nozzle tip has an externally threaded body portion 10 for engagementwith the internally threaded, fluid chamber-forming end 11 of the casing2. The body portion of the tip has an annular enlargement 12 whichprovides a shoulder 13. An O-ring 14 is placed about the tip body toseal between the casing end and the tip shoulder 13 to make the jointbetween the tip and casing watertight. The exposed end 15 of the tip maytake any desired conguration.

Nozzle tip 6 is bored axially to provide a series of coaxial sections ofstepped diameter. The innermost section 16 is of the largest diameterand is threaded to be engaged by threads on the body of a valve seatmember 17. The intermediate section 18 of the bore is of reduceddiameter and has a tapered bottom portion 19 leading to an outlet `sprayorifice 20. The valve seat member has a projecting stud 21, which liesconcentrically within the intermediate bore section 18, and has atapered end 22 which lies within the tapered bottom section 19 of thetip bore. The diameters of the stud 21 and its tapered end 22 are suchthat their surfaces are in contact with the walls of the intermediatebore section and its tapered bottom. The tapered end 22 of the stud isprovided with spirally arranged channels 23 which communicate with theoutlet spray orifice 20.

The valve seat member 17 has its body threaded into the nozzle tip bore,as described, and has a head 24 by which it may be handled. The head islarger than the body and forms a shoulder 25. An O-ring 26 about thevalve seat member body adjacent the head provides a seal between theshoulder 25 and the inner end of the nozzle tip to prevent fluidleakage.

Valve 4seat member 17 also has an axial passageway. This includes atapered valve seat proper 27, a valve stem guide chamber 28 with whichthe valve seat proper communicates, and a fluid passage 29 which is acontinuation of the guide chamber 28. Near the end of the valve seatmember stud portion, axial passageway 29 terminates, and a plurality ofconnecting ports 30 extend from the passageway 29 in an outwardlydiverging direction to the surface of the stud portion to allow fluid inpassageway gg to ilow to the channels 23 and the outlet spray orificeValve stem 7 includes a main stem 31, having a tapered valve 32 at oneend, and an abutment plate 33 at the other end. A valve guide 34-projects axially of the stem, beyond the valve 32, for sliding movementin the guide chamber 28 in the valve seat member. A tail guide 35projects axially of the stem from the abutment plate, for guidingmovement in a bearing opening 36 in the partition 3 of the casing. Allof the parts of the valve stem are in axial alignment. Valve guide 34has :a sliding lit within the guide chamber 28 to hold the valve 32 inposition for proper seating in the valve seat 27, and is grooved, orfluted, longitudinally, as at 37 to allow free flow of fluid through thechamber 28. The tail guide is circumferentially grooved at 38 to seat onO-ring 39. The O-ring has sliding, sealing contact with the partitionwall about the bearing opening 36 in the partition, which will -be madesufficiently thick to provide bearing contact for the O-ring throughoutthe full range of valve stem .movement. The abutment plate will besmaller in diameter than the interior of valve chamber 4 t-o allow freeflow of uid around it, yet will be as large as possible to present amplesurface to accumulated uid in the chamber to cause the valve'stem to bemoved to valve unseating position when a predetermined fluid pressure isbuilt up in chamber 4. ,The abutment plate will be larger in diameterthan the bearing opening 36 in the partition, `so that the abutmentplate in striking the partition may serve as a limit stop for valvestem.

The valve stem is yieldingly held in valve-closed posi- -tion by meansof a coil spring 40, mounted in the spring chambers of the casing,Spring 441 carries a pressure plate 41 at its end adjacent the casingpartition, which is in pressure contact with the end of the tail guide3S of the valve stem. The opposite end of the spring bears against a-b'ack plate 42, which is threaded for adjustment along screw thread 43on the interior of the spring chamber wall. The casing is threaded forthe full length of 'the spring chamber. Obviously, the further the backplate is threaded into the chamber, the more pressure will be placedupon the valve stem and the greater the force required to unseat thevalve. In order that air pressure within the spring chamber behind theback plate can equalize during valve movement, the back plate isprovided with Ian air opening 44.

When the nozzle is to be used, a nozzle tip having' the desired `sprayorifice is mounted in the casing end. This is done by screwing the valveseat member into the tip bore, and threading the tip into the casingend. This arrangement permits tip changes while maintaining the samevalve stem and valve seat member, so that a matched valve stem and valveseat can be kept together even though the nozzle tip is changed. Beforeusing the nozzle, the back plate 42 will be adjusted to put the valvestem under desired pressure.

In operation in a system wherein the pipe line, or tube, 9 has its owcontrolled Iby a solenoid valve (not shown) the fluid flow will bestarted and stopped quickly. As iuid enters chamber 4, pressure will bebuilt up against abutment plate 33 forcing it against partition 3 andlifting valve 32 from its seat. Fluid will ow from chamber 4 through thevalve seat 27, valve stem guide chamber 28 along the grooves 37 in thevalve guide, passageway 29, diverging ports 30, channels 23 and outletspray orifice 20. The valve will remain in this position, and fluid willcontinue to spray from the nozzle tip as long as pressure within thechamber 4 remains at a predetermined level. When uid flow to chamber 4is cut olf, pressure within the chamber will drop, whereupon spring 40will move the valve stem to seat valve 32 on seat 27.

As soon as valve 32 seats, spray from the nozzle ceases. The cut-off isinstantaneous and complete, and there will be no after-drip. The cut-offis instantaneous, because spring 40 acts quickly .and the valve isguided to a properV seat. There is no after-drip because of thepassageway arrangement and passageway size, and because of the pressureseat of the valve. The channels 23 provide one or more wells beneath thelevel of the outlet orifice into which fluid within the valve seatmember Iand tip can accumulate. The orifice and passageway diameters aresuch that capillary attraction will hold any uid which might be withinthem.

The valve as disclosed will be fully automatic in operation, will openand close quickly under uid pressure changes in the valve chamber, andwhen'closed will be dripless.

While in the above one practical embodiment of the invention has beendisclosed, it will be understood that the details of construction shownand described are merely by w-ay of illustration, land the invention maytake other forms within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A nozzle comprising, a tubular casing divided by a transversepartition into a fvalve chamber and a spring chamber, a nozzle tipbridging the casing at the valve chamber end, the nozzle having anoutlet orifice and carrying a valve seat in open communication with theoutlet oriiice, a valve stem mounted within the valve chamber andmovable to and from the valve seat, a valve on the valve stem forclosing engagement with the valve seat when the valve stem moves towardthe valve seat, the partition having an opening therethrough and thevalve stem having a tail guide slidably mounted in the opening, a backplate adjustably mounted in the spring chamber, a coil springintermediate the back plate and the valve stem tail guide to urge thevalve stem toward valve-closing position, an abutment plate on the valvestern, an inlet for uid opening to the valve chamber, a valve guidechamber intermediate the valve seat and the outlet orifice through whichiiuid .may pass from the valve seat to the outlet orifice, and a valveguide projecting from said valve and slidable in the valve guidechamber, the valve seat being carried by Ia valve seat member and thevalve seat member being removably mounted in the nozzle tip.

2. A nozzle as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the nozzle tip is bored toreceive the valve seat member and the valve seat member has a studprojecting concentrically into said bore, the valve seat member havingan axial passageway from the valve seat into the stud, ports divergingfrom the axial passageway and 4opening to the surface of the stud, andchannels in said stud communicating with the ports and the outletorifice. 3. A nozzle comprising, a tubular casing divided by atransverse partition into open-ended valve and spring chambers, a nozzletip threaded into the open end of the valve chamber and having a boreinto the interior end of lthe nozzle tip coaxial with the longitudinalaxis of the casing, a valve seat member threaded within the bore :andhaving a stud projecting into the bore, an outlet orice in the nozzletip from the exterior of the nozzle tip to said bore and coaxial withsaid bore, a valve seat at the end of the valve seat member within thevalve charnber, a valve guide -chamber in open communication with thevalve seat, a central passageway from the valve guide chamber totherstud, ports diverging from the central passageway to the surface ofthe stud, and channels on the stud in communication with the ports andthe outlet oritice, a valve stem mounted within the valve chamber havinga valve for seating engagement with the valve seat, a valve guideprojecting from the valve into the valve guide chamber forguidedmovement therein, a tail guide on the valve stem projecting through anopening in the partition and in sliding engagement with the opening, aback plate mounted in the spring chamber for adjustment toward and fromthe partition, a coil spring inter-posed between the back plate andvalve stem tail guide, an abutment plate 4on the valve stem within thevalve chamber, and an inlet for uid opening into the valve chamber.

4. A nozzleas claimed in claim 3 wherein, the valve guide is grooved inthe direction of its movement in the valve guide chamber to allow flowof uid between the valve guidey and the valve guide chamber Walls.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,498,034 6/24 Hesselman 239-533 1,761,122 6/30 Groff 239-533 2,098,48711/37 Cooper et al. 239-493 2,273,243 2/42 Zanetti 239493 2,625,435 1/53Larborn 239-533 EVERETT W. KIRBY, Primary Examiner.

1. A NOZZLE COMPRISING, A TUBULAR CASING DIVIDED BY A TRANSVERSEPARTITION INTO A VALVE CHAMBER AND A SPRING CHAMBER, A NOZZLE TIPBRIDGING THE CASING AT THE VALVE CHAMBER END, THE NOZZLE HAVING ANOUTLET ORIFICE AND CARRYING A VALVE SEAT IN OPEN COMMUNICATION WITH THEOUTLET ORIFICE, A VALVE STEM MOUNTED WITHIN THE VALVE CHAMBER ANDMOVABLE TO AND FROM THE VALVE SEAT, A VALVE ON THE VALVE STEM FORCLOSING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE VALVE SEAT WHEN THE VALVE STEM MOVES TOWARDTHE VALVE SEAT, THE PARTITION HAVING AN OPENING THERETHROUGH AND THEVALVE STEM HAVING A TAIL GUIDE SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN THE OPENING, A BACKPLATE ADJUSTABLY MOUNTED IN THE SPRING CHAMBER, A COIL SPRINGINTERMEDIATE THE BACK PLATE AND THE VALVE STEM TAIL GUIDE TO URGE THEVALVE STEM TOWARD VALVE-CLOSING POSITION, AN ABUTMENT PLATE ON THE VALVESTEM, AN INLET FOR FLUID OPENING TO THE VALVE CHAMBER, A CALVE GUIDECHAMBER INTERMEDIATE THE VALVE SEAT AND THE OUTLET ORIFICE THROUGH WHICHFLUID MAY PASS FROM THE VALVE SEAT TO THE OUTLET ORIFICE, AND A VALVEGUIDE PROJECTING FROM SAID VALVE AND SLIDABLE IN THE VALVE GUIDECHAMBER, THE VALVE SEAT BEING CARRIED BY A VALVE SEAT MEMBER AND THEVALVE SEAT MEMBER BEING REMOVABLY MOUNTED IN THE NOZZLE TIP.